Blessed by infertility.

We celebrated our 6-year wedding anniversary this last weekend.  Six years of joyfully bumpy wedded bliss.  By far, our biggest marital "struggle" has been infertility.  When we got married, we had no idea that we would be blessed with at least one confirmed miscarriage and years of infertility.

That's right, I said blessed. 

I say blessed because without infertility, we would not have experienced the joy of adoption.  If you have never experienced domestic adoption, and been on that wild ride, you cannot relate to the whirlwind journey.  It is a ride.  It is thrilling, exhilarating, desperate, painful, anxious, nervous, climactic, a bring-you-to-your-knees encounter to the very core of who you are.  Everything you've ever thought about life and the loss of life (abortion, miscarriage, child neglect) is challenged. 

I say blessed because without infertility, we would not have come face to face with our need for God.  During our struggle, we've never been more angry at, scared of, in awe of, delighted by, and humbled by our Maker.

I say blessed because without infertility, we would never have been given the lens through which you see miracles take place. 

I say blessed because without infertility, we would never have had so many tears shed, fights, bitter silence, sob-filled hugs, or cling-to-eachother moments. 

I say blessed because without infertility, we would have never taken our journey to NEDC and Tennessee.  We would never have met Jennifer and Dave.  We never would have got to experience the miracle of life, frozen, in a petri dish, thawed, transferred, and given the chance to grow into a beautiful baby girl.

Sure, we could have been blessed by getting pregnant easily, and carrying to term without any complications, and giving birth to beautiful children.

But, then we would not have Brae and Sienna.  The only way for Brae and Sienna to come to be ours was through infertility and adoption. 

And, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Our six years of marriage has brought us incredible blessings.